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Global March releases Resource Manual on Child Domestic Labour

 

 

To mark the International Women’s Day (March 8), Global March Against Child Labour is focussing on child domestic labour, an issue rife with exploitation of girls, and is releasing “Tackling Child Domestic Labour and Protecting Young Domestic Workers: A Global Resource Manual”. Globally, there are around 11.5 million children in child domestic labour with the majority (70%, 7.5 million) being girls. As child domestic labourers, girls have to face long hours of work carrying out myriad tasks with meagre or irregular salaries if paid at all and physical, mental and sexual abuse. Many girls get trafficked into domestic work due to household poverty and deprivation that makes them vulnerable to exploitation. Tackling child domestic labour is challenging as it largely remains invisible due to it being a form of child exploitation that takes place in private homes hidden from public view falling beyond the scope of regulation and inspection, and the cultural acceptance and social attitude towards it that regard such form of child labour as “safe” and often a form of apprenticeship for girls, necessary for their later roles upon marriage.

 

Speaking on the plight of child domestic labourers, Global March Chairperson, Kailash Satyarthi stated, “A significant growth in the middle class is resulting in booming demand for cheap and docile domestic servants. Children, in particular girls are most preferred. This has increased human trafficking in growing economies worldwide. There must not be any place for this invisible slavery in any civilised society. A multi-pronged approach of legal action and enforcement, social protection programmes for poor, free education of good quality and complete social boycott of families and employers who employ child domestic labour must be in place.”

 

The Resource Manual is a comprehensive document on the issue of engagement of children in domestic work that is intended to provide support to organisations ranging from trade unions, child rights organisations/NGOs, and others to take action against child domestic labour and to protect young domestic workers of legal working age. It has been especially developed to strengthen the capacity of trade unions and worker groups, community-based organisations and NGOs to advocate for an end to exploitation and abuse of children in domestic work, and to provide good practice guidance on the best ways of directly supporting these children so that they get access to education, social protection schemes and thus a fulfilled childhood.

 

Global March has conducted situational analyses on the issue of child domestic labour in Indonesia, Panama and Togo where Global March is carrying out focused action under its current campaign on child domestic labour, FREE: Free From Exploitation For Education. The Resource Manual builds on these situational analyses and includes examples from it across its various sections.

 

Reaffirming Global March’s commitment to end child exploitation, especially in child domestic labour, Kailash Satyarthi added, “Global March also calls for speedy ratification of ILO Convention 189, enactment of national legislations accordingly and substantial allocation of adequate financing for prevention, remediation and rehabilitation of child domestic labour victims.” In alignment with this call, Global March in the coming months will be launching a global campaign demanding ratification of Convention 189 and action against child domestic labour.

 

Download the Resource Manual

 

For more information, visit: http://globalmarch.org/Child-Labour-Domestic/ 

 

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